Ask Sam letter

To Sam25 April 2017

Writing to someone in prison

Hello i was wondering if i can write letter to my uncle he is prison but the court said he a threat to public be he not a threat to my family he is really kind

Sam9 May 2017

Hi there,

It can be really upsetting when a parent, relative or someone we care about is in prison. You're allowed to write letters to family members who are in prison to keep in touch with them. However you should make sure someone who looks after you is aware you're sending letters to your uncle.

When someone we know is in prison, it can be difficult to get used to the idea that we can't see them like we could before. There are several ways to talk to people in prison. But how often, and in which ways, depends on the kind of prison they are in. The more severe the crime, the more secure the prison will be. This may mean they'll be allowed less contact with people outside.

It's really important that you tell an adult you want to write to your uncle. This should ideally be someone who looks after you, like a parent or guardian. But if you can’t talk to them about this, then it could also be a teacher or someone else you trust.

Letters that are sent to prisons can be read by prison staff. This means what you say probably won’t be private, and you may not always be able to get a reply. It could be useful to think about what you’d like to say to your uncle and what you’re hoping he'll say back.